Under fire for recent overdose deaths of small kids under her agency’s care, Department of Children & Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters has resigned. Before resigning, Walters complained of too few staff to handle the massive caseload of at-risk kids and families. Governor Edwards is bringing in a third-party organization to do a top-to-bottom review of DCFS.

The nation celebrates Veteran’s Day across the country…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Inflation is making it more costly to drink and make a cold beer these days and David Blossman, President and CEO of the Abita Brewing Company in Covington says everything is significantly higher in cost than just a year ago, and that’s cutting into company profits…:

Cut 8 (11)  “…up 25 percent.”

He says the pandemic impacted bar sales but he’s optimistic the economy rebound and post-pandemic pub crowds will return.

The state’s endangered whooping crane population continues to grow. State Wildlife and Fisheries has added 10 more cranes to its experimental population. Wildlife technician Eva Szyszkowski (SIS COW SKI) says if you are a birdwatcher and want to see them go where lots of birds go to find an easy meal.

Cut 12 (11) “…rice and crawfish.” 

Happy Veteran’s Day… A strong cold front swings through the state tonight and into tomorrow bringing fall temperatures for the Bayou State for the next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says before the cold air arrives, we’ll see some rain…

Cut 3 (08) “.assure you” 

Keim says high temperatures will struggle to get into the 60s on Saturday and mid-50s for north Louisiana, leading to a cold Sunday morning…

40-year-high rates in inflation are making it more costly to enjoy a cold beer…or to make it for that matter. David Blossman is President and CEO of the nationally famous Abita Brewing Company in Covington. He says the cost of goods and materials to make their products is up about 35 percent over the past couple of years and Abita has had to increase prices twice so far this year…:

Cut 7 (08) “…pretty aggressively.”

The state’s endangered whooping crane population continues to grow. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has added 10 more whooping cranes to its experimental population. LDWF wildlife technician Eva Szyszkowski (SIS COW SKI) says there’s only one other flock of migrating cranes in the country.

Cut 10 (14) “…wild.” 

The Shreveport mother of country music artists and songwriters Jordan and Jacob Davis, Luwanna Davis is thrilled her sons won the CMA for Song of the year with Buy Dirt. She fondly remembers when her sons were starting out in the business and she’s never forgotten what one of Jacob’s producers told her, that he believed her sons were making history.

Cut 14 (10)  “…they are.”

Today the nation celebrates Veterans Day, a day to honor and celebrate those who dedicated their lives to protecting and serving our country. Originally made to remember those who fought in World War I, in which fighting ceased on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the holiday now celebrates veterans all across the country. Here in Louisiana, we honor 283,000 veterans. Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs Spokesperson Brandee Patrick…
Cut 4 (10) “…those who served.”

Maybe you would like to buy a beer for a veteran. Abita Beer President David Blossman says inflation has resulted in two price increases for their products this year, which has never happened before. But Blossman feels the economy will eventually improve…
cut 9 (11) “….doing a lot better”

Shreveport’s own Jacob and Jordan Davis won song of the year at the Country Music Awards Wednesday and their mom could not be any prouder. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Get ready for some colder weather and it will stick around for awhile. A strong cold front will move through the state tonight and into the overnight hours, bringing some rain. High temperatures will be in the 50s starting on Saturday and for the next few days. Morning lows on Sunday expected to get below freezing in north Louisiana.

Under fire for recent overdose deaths of small kids under her agency’s care, Department of Children & Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters has resigned. Before resigning, Walters complained of too few staff to handle the massive caseload of at-risk kids and families. Governor Edwards is bringing in a third-party organization to do a top-to-bottom review of DCFS.

Inflation hits Louisiana businesses hard, including the nationally famous Abita Beer in St. Tammany Parish. Kevin Gallagher talks with the CEO…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

It’s Veteran’s Day, a day to salute military veterans for serving and sacrificing for our country. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson Brandee Patrick says there are several events today to honor those who served.
cut 5 (09) “…vetaffairs.la.gov”
Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Iberville Parish today to award a Purple Heart to the family of one hero who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Buy Dirt, co-written by two brothers from Shreveport, Jordan and Jacob Davis won Song of the Year at the Country Music Awards. We spoke to their mother Luwanna Davis, who says that song has touched so many…
cut 15 (12) “…in life”

Department of Children & Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters has resigned; under fire after two Baton Rouge children under DCFS supervision died from drug overdoses in a four-month span. In her resignation letter, Walters said the uptick in reports of abuse and neglect has created what she calls an impossible task for child welfare workers.

The nation celebrates Veteran’s Day today… Kace Kieschnick has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

After winning song of the year at the Country Music Awards on Wednesday night, to say Shreveport mother Luwanna Davis is proud of her sons Jordan and Jacob is an understatement. The pair are co-writers of the song Buy Dirt and Jordan sings the hit with Luke Bryan. Luwanna Davis remembers when Jacob played music in college.
Cut 13 (12) “…free (laughing).”
Lainey Wilson of Franklin Parish was also a big winner at the CMAs winning Female Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year.

Good news in the state’s effort to re-grow the state’s whooping crane population as ten more whooping cranes have been added to the wildlife along coastal Louisiana. That brings the population to 87 after re-starting the flock in 2011. LDWF’s Eva Szyszkoski says whooping cranes face a number of threats, including other predators…
cut 11 (09) “…powerlines”

Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters has resigned after a second child died from a drug overdose death that the state agency received warnings about.  The resignation comes one day after Governor John Bel Edwards called last week’s fentanyl overdose death of a one-year-old child an absolute failure by DCFS…

Cut 6 (12)  “…absolute failure”

Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise and current House Minority Whip has made his intentions known he’d like to be House Majority Leader in January, but LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says until outstanding congressional races are settled it’s still up in the air if the GOP will be the majority party.

Cut 9 (12)  “…a majority.

One Louisiana election is making national headlines. 23-year-old Tyrin Troung (TIE-RIN TRONG)-the grandson of a Vietnamese immigrant—ousted the two-term mayor of Bogalusa Tuesday night.

Cut 3 (08) “..gun violence.” 

Byrd High School is buzzing over two of its alumni who won song of the year at last night’s Country Music Awards. The hit song “Buy Dirt” is co-written by Shreveport natives Jordan and Jacob Davis. Byrd English teacher Stephanie Springer was one of Jordan’s teachers, and she says the entire school is very proud of Jordan Davis and his brother, Jacob…

Cut 14 (06)  “…don’t pursue.” 

Franklin Parish native Rainey Wilson won Female Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year.

Under fire for recent overdose deaths of small kids under her agency’s care, Department of Children & Family Services Secretary Marketa Walters has resigned. This comes a day after Governor John Bel Edwards says the death of a one-year-old DCFS client on October 31^st from fentanyl was an “absolute failure” of the agency…:

CUT 08  (07)        “…what happened.”

Before resigning, Walters had complained of too few staff to handle the massive caseload of at-risk kids and families in the state.

Bogalusa elects a new mayor; the 23-year-old grandson of a Vietnamese immigrant, Tyron Truong. He says he will work to innovate ways to address the root causes of violence, and he wants to use community policing and set up a mayor’s camp…:

CUT 05(10)      “…new skills.”

Fresh off his resounding re-election victory Tuesday night, District One congressman and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise begins his efforts to be elected House Majority Leader in the next Congress. Scalise says he supports California Congressman Kevin McCarthy to be the next House Speaker, but he wants that #2 position. It can be beneficial to Louisiana to have a delegate holding high office in the Capitol.

Last night’s Country Music Awards saw some Louisiana talent take honors. Franklin Parish native Lainey Wilson won Female artists of the year and New Artist of the Year. Plus Shreveport brothers Jordan and Jacob Davis won Song of the year for writing “Buy Dirt”, a hit by Luke Bryan. Back at home, Stephanie Springer, who taught them at Byrd High school, says she saw Jordan’s creativity even then…:

CUT 14(06)      “…very naturally.”

She says all of Byrd High School is very proud of the Davis Brothers.